London Covent Garden May 12th - 19th, 2002 A seven night, eight day escorted tour with five performances
	458 West 52nd Street #1D New York, NY 10019 (800) 916-0312

Sunday, May 12th
Independent departures for London.

Monday, May 13th
Independent morning arrivals and individual transfers to the superior four-star, Hotel Radisson Edwardian Mountbatten, at Covent Garden. Full English Breakfast is included each day. Afternoon at leisure. Welcome reception and dinner in the hotel's Broadlands Suite.

Tuesday, May 14th
We begin the day with a tour of the major landmarks of the City of London, including The Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the stunning London Eye, the world's largest observation wheel. Afternoon at leisure.
This evening, we are excited to attend the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden for a performance of Elijah Moshinsky's new production of Verdi's highly dramatic Il Trovatore. Dmitri Hvorostovsky stars as the brooding Count di Luna, Veronica Villarroel, the ecstatic Leonora, Yvonne Naef as the enraged Azucena, and José Cura portrays the fired-up troubadour, Manrico. Verdi's explosive score, conducted by Carlo Rizzi, is inflamed with music of high recklessness and passion.

Wednesday, May 15th
This morning, we will enjoy private guided tours of the newly opened Tate Modern, and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Depending on rehearsal schedules, we will go behind-the-scenes to visit the backstage at the Royal Opera House, or the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Afternoon at leisure.

A rare opportunity awaits us this evening, as we attend Richard Strauss's stunning one-act opera, Daphne, sung in concert. Daphne is one of Strauss's spirited late operas, containing some of his most ravishing writing, especially in the exhilarating tenor roles of the two men in love with Daphne. Acclaimed conductor Christian Thielemann leads a cast of notable Strauss specialists including Roberto Saccà , Johan Botha and Jane Henschel. Rising star soprano Alexandra von der Weth leads the cast as Daphne, the woman deceived by man and god, who in the beautiful transfiguration scene that ends the opera, becomes immortal.

Thursday, May 16th
View both sides of the Thames this morning on a narrated cruise through central London and past the architecturally stunning Docklands, and the Millenium Dome. We then disembark at Greenwich, one of the oldest parts of London and historically the heartland of British maritime tradition. Visit the Royal Observatory from where Greenwich Mean Time is set, see the Cutty Sark, the last of the racing tea clippers, and have lunch at the Trafalgar Tavern, a grand Victorian riverside building next to the Royal Naval College. We continue our day with a drive on through the picturesque countryside of Kent, where a unique experience awaits us at Finchcocks, a beautiful Queen Anne manor house. Our charming hosts welcome us to their fascinating home with a champagne reception in their delightful gardens, followed by a presentation of one of the world's foremost collections of antique keyboard instruments, lovingly restored to concert ready condition. Our highly amusing host is an acclaimed international concert pianist of distinction and may treat us to an impromptu performance!

In the evening attend the long awaited Covent Garden new production of La Rondine, by Giacomo Puccini. This sweetly touching lyrical comedy has rarely been performed since its 1917 premiere. Eighty years later, Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna have recorded and made this opera their own. Gianluigi Gelmetti conducts Puccini's "operetta", also featuring Cinzia Forte and Charles Workman.

Friday, May 17th
We drive along the banks of the River Thames today, past Runnymede to hear about King John and the signing of the Magna Carta, the basis of British democracy ever since, and an integral part of the Constitution of the United States. We continue past the John F. Kennedy Memorial and through the historic town of Old Windsor to imposing Windsor Castle, the favorite Royal Residence of Queen Elizabeth II. The original building, started in 1080 by William the Conqueror, was soon replaced by a stone-built tower which still stands at the heart of the Castle. You will visit the State Apartments (Court arrangements permitting; or, St. George's Chapel). After the visit, wander the lanes of the quaint old part of Windsor town, or cross the Thames footbridge to the adjacent hamlet of Eton, home to Eton College, England's most pre-eminent boys' public school, and site of the Battle of Waterloo.

This evening, the ballet Romeo and Juliet, is presented at Covent Garden by the Royal Ballet. Shakespeare's tragedy of star-crossed lovers has inspired generations of leading artists. Marrying the play and Prokofiev's passionate, brooding score, MacMillan produced a classic of 20th-century choreography and one of the Royal Ballet's most popular works, all the more remarkable considering that it was his first full-length ballet. Pas de deux of startling lyrical beauty are danced against a spectacular and forceful portrait of Renaissance Italy and a city torn apart by factionalism. The lovers Romeo and Juliet are secretly married, but any hope that their union might lead to harmony are shattered, and attempts to escape from the ensuing violence lead to tragedy.

Saturday, May 18th
Today we will enjoy a full day excursion to the pretty town of Stratford-Upon-Avon to visit the sites made famous by the quill of the Bard of Avon. See Shakespeare's Birthplace and his wife's house, Ann Hathaway's Cottage, an architectural masterpiece of a thatched country farmstead, still containing the settle on which he and Anne did their courting! In Holy Trinity Church, plaques mark the burial place of the Bard and other members of his family. There will be time for lunch in this delightful town, before our afternoon matinee. We will choose our performance once the new season has been announced.

We journey through the picturesque villages of the Cotswolds, for a Gala Farewell Pub Supper at one of the typically characteristic wayside Inns which abound as we wend our way back to London.

Sunday, May 19th
Independent departures from London.

TOUR PRICE
Land Arrangements
US$2995 (Based on Double Occupancy)
Single Supplement US$600
$1500 Deposit is required to secure your space on tour. Balance due on April 1st, 2002.

Transportation
Lowest Airfare at time of booking is available directly through Pro Musica Tours, at cost, for your convenience. A Saturday night stay is included to assure you the lowest airfare possible.
Please call for details.